April 2019
A publication for the members of the SPE – South Texas Section
of Plastics Professionals

President’s Message

Steve King

For those who participated in the Houston Community College, Additive (3D Printing) Manufacturing event thank you. We hosted a very nice crowd and experienced a very interesting technical presentation on printing medical products. We wrapped up the evening with tour of the facility. I encourage you to check our website for more information on our ongoing activities. We have big plans for our members in April and May.

We are planning another technical event at Saint Arnold’s brewery on April 18th from 6PM to 8PM where our guest speaker will present on specialty perfluorinated olefins polymers combining extreme inertness with high resistance to chemical and physical aggressions, among them, polytetrafluoethylene homopolymers, and a new class of melt processable TFE copolymers. A look ahead to May. We will be hosting another technical presentation related to Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) utilizing specialty polymers. Watch your inbox for details.

As previously reported we are looking volunteers to become active in our efforts to raise scholarship fund through various activities. Opportunities range from serving as members for the Board of Directors, serving on special event coordination, to the Polyolefins Conference committees. We are also looking for University Liaisons to represent SPE and support the various activities with each. One recent activity at Texas State is highlighted on our website.

Sincerely,
Steve King, President


Please join us at St. Arnold's for an informative technical presentation from Mehdi Emad of Solvay Specialty Polymers

Steve KingMr. Emad is currently responsible for technical support & new application development with a focus on fluoropolymers at Solvay in addition he has published a number of patents in the use of specialized polyamides for fuel line applications and impact modifiers for thermoplastics.

His technical presentation will detail specialty perfluorinated olefins polymers combining extreme inertness with high resistance to chemical and physical aggressions, among them, polytetrafluoethylene homopolymers, and a new class of melt processable TFE copolymers.

A fajita meal will be served along with St. Arnold's famous brew. Enjoy this evening out with SPE South Texas Section gaining valuable information and socializing with other professionals in the plastics industry.

Technical/Social Event

St. Arnold's Brewery
Thursday, April 18, 6-8 pm
2000 Lyons Ave.
Houston, Texas

Cost:

Member $25
Non-member $35

 

 


 

Steve KingTexas State University Promotes Their SPE Student Chapter

The SPE Student Chapter promote the benefits of becoming a member which is free to all Texas State students.

View Presentation.

 

 


 


2019 Polyolefins Conference was a Success!

There 624 attendees and 64 exhibitors which help achieve an increase in revenue over 2018 revenue. Thanks to all who made this possible.

 


 





University of Texas SPE Student Chapter is back!

We are excited to see the UT SPE Student Chapter has been activated. With new officers elected, they are ready to take charge to promote the chapter to those students in the chemical engineering field.

2019 Officers

President: Faud Samier Aziz
Vice President: Christopher Lee
Treasurer: Alex Chung
Faculty Adviser: Nathaniel Lynd






In the Crosshairs: Single-Use, Disposable Packaging

By Robert Grace

Plastics waste poses a massive global problem. But the real issue, according to Tom Szaky, is not the material, it’s how we use it. The problem is society’s single-use, disposable mindset. And the New Jersey-based entrepreneur is setting about trying to change that.

Read More...


South Texas SPE 2018-2019 Board Meeting

March Meeting Minutes – 03/11/2019

Attendees: Steve King, Janell Helton, Tom Walsh, Pete Lauzon, Iman Bahrani, David Hansen, Bill Diecks, and Richard Keeler

Opening: The meeting was opened at 6:00 pm by Steve King

Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the previous meeting was approved, motion by David, second by Bill, all approved.

Honoring our fallen members: In our previous BOD Mtg it was discussed how to honor our members for exceptional contributions and service to the Society of Plastics Engineers. It was agreed that we would visit with the POC Board to get their feedback. This meeting is scheduled for April 8th. It was also recommended that we set up an awards committee for selection. A second suggestion was to honor our members by naming the scholarships. This is to be addressed at the next meeting.

Houston Community College: Update from David was the technical/social meeting at HCC on March 7th was a very good successful event. We had in attendance 4 exhibitors, 60 attendees. The technical presentation given was demonstrating the 3D printing of medical organs used for practice by the surgeon.

Polyolefin Conference Update: The POC was reported as a successful event. We had 624 attendees and collected more revenue than 2018. Thanks to everyone for their contribution towards making this a success.

Clay Shoot, a second fund raising event being researched is a clay shoot later in the fall of 2019. Pete, Tom, and Robert are leading this initiative. Research continues and is coming together. Pete agreed to continue pursuit of this event and keep the group up to date. It was decided that a survey be sent to our members soliciting feedback on interest. Pete will work with Janell to complete the survey and report at the next meeting.

Board Member Nomination Committee: Tom Walsh agreed to chair the nomination committee, Steve and Pete to participate. It was recommend that voting take place via constant contact. The nomination committee to determine the best method for voting.

Non-responding Schools: Communication with all schools has been challenging. For example we are looking for a liaison for Texas Tech, University of Texas, and North Texas University. Any members interested? Members of the board will seek volunteers.

Awards Dinner: Planning for awards dinners are being organized for late May. More details to come at the next BOD Meeting.


Plastics Information: Check It Out

Astros

Houston Public LibraryThe Houston Public Library on McKinney has resources on plastics and polymers. Check out their catalog. If you are not near the McKinney location, you can arrange to pick up your books at your local branch.

The Fondren Library at Rice University has the most complete collection of books on plastics and polymers. This is also a prime resource for patent and trademark information, as well as other US Government documents. You cannot check out books there unless you join Fondren Library [$50], but you can arrange for books to be sent to your library by inter-library loan. Use their catalog.

The next best place to browse is at the MD Anderson Library at the University of Houston central campus. South Texas Section has donated many plastics books to this library. If you plan ahead, you can get a TexShare library card from a library where you are a member, which will allow you to check out books from any U of H library. Their catalog is here.


Calendar of Events

DATE EVENT LOCATION TIME
TBD Polyolefins Committee Meeting Houston Technology Center, 410 Pierce St, Houston, TX 77002 (and conference phone-in number.) 5 p.m.
April 8 Board of Directors Meeting Houston Technology Center, 410 Pierce St, Houston, TX 77002 (and conference phone-in number.) 6 p.m.
April 18 Social St. Arnold Brewery 6-8 p.m.
May 14 Social St. Arnold Brewery 6-8 p.m.

 


Board of Directors

Need to contact one of us?

Section Officers

President
Steve King
Solvay

President Elect
Dell Doyle
Dow Chemical

Past President
Kevin Alexander
KWA-Tech, Inc

Vice President
Iman Bahrani
Omya, Inc.

Secretary  

Treasurer
Peter Lauzon

Committee Chairpersons

Awards Committee Chair –
Kevin Alexander
KWA-Tech, Inc.

Golf Outing
Ryan Reese
Dover Chemical

Education Committee Chair –
David Hansen
SBC Consulting

Housing
Ryan Reese
Dover Chemical

Membership Committee Co-Chairs
Chuck Crosby
Braskem Americas

Tom Walsh
Walsh Consulting Services

Newsletter –
Iman Bahrani
Omya, Inc.

Technical Program
Dell Doyle
Dow Chemical

Young Professional Chair

Polyolefins 2017 Chair –
Robert C. Portnoy
Portnoy Technical Services LLC

Board Members

Steve King
Solvay

Kevin Alexander
KWA-Tech, Inc.

Iman Bahrani
Omya, Inc.

Bill Diecks Retired

David Hansen
SBC Consulting

David Grice
C&K Plastics

Dell Doyle
Dow Chemical

Tom Walsh
Walsh Consulting Services, Inc.

Peter Lauzon
Peal Processing


Web Content/Section Coordinator

Janell Helton
Houston, TX 77084
713-503-6729
jdhelton@comcast.net